NATO’s statements threaten peace process in Ukraine — Russian FM

MOSCOW, September 05. /ITAR-TASS/. Statements at the NATO summit in Wales on Ukraine’s crisis will inevitably escalate tensions and will threaten peace process in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

“The essence and the tonality of the statements on Ukraine, along with the announced plans to hold joint war games of the NATO member states and Kiev in that country till the end of 2014, will inevitably escalate tensions, threaten the visible progress in Ukraine’s peace process and facilitate a deepening split among Ukrainians,” the ministry said.

“Moreover, they (the statements) witness NATO’s unconditional support of Kiev’s neo-Nazi and extremist forces, including (nationalist) Right Sector,” it said.

“The alliance set up during the Cold War as a military and political organization is unable to alter its genetic code in principle,” it said. “Its strategic course aimed at interference into the affairs of third states was not born today or yesterday. It is a logical continuation of NATO’s efforts to determine its role and place in the global security system amid absence of confrontation from any military bloc.”

“The summit has vividly demonstrated that NATO, which is carrying out a policy under the dictation of Washington and ‘hawks’ from some European capitals, has striven and is striving for domination in Europe’s military sphere and it violates agreements repeatedly confirmed at all levels about importance of establishing a system of equal and indivisible security,” the ministry said.

“At the same time, efforts of the international community to counteract current threats and challenges are being sacrificed, including terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, drugs trafficking, piracy, natural or man-made disasters,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.